When gymnastics season drew to a close at the 2015 NCAA Championships, so did the careers of five LSU gymnasts.
Three of the Tigers graduating in May are among the most accomplished gymnasts in LSU history: Rheagan Courville, Lloimincia Hall and Jessie Jordan. With 39 All-American honors among them, they are leaving big shoes to fill on every event.
But sophomore all-arounder Ashleigh Gnat spent the whole season proving she’s just as talented as the graduating seniors.
“The leadership we have this year is so incredible with [Jordan, Courville and Hall],” Gnat said. “I can only learn from everything that they have shown to us. Hopefully, next year I can step up.”
After an All-American freshman season on vault and floor, Gnat competed in the all-around competition seven times during the regular season and picked up regular-season All-American honors with the No. 13 regional qualifying score in the country.
She ended the season No. 10 in the RQS rankings on floor with a score of 9.930 and advanced to the NCAA Individual Event Finals on the event. Of the four LSU returners who qualified for the individual finals, Gnat claimed the highest place on the podium at fifth.
Courville said Gnat’s confidence is at an all-time high and that it will help her lead the team.
“I have seen [Gnat] do some of the most amazing routines I’ve ever seen [in practice], and she has competed them well,” Courville said. “I don’t think that, mentally, she was in a place to do that last year because she didn’t have enough confidence in herself, but what we have seen from her this year is an amazing all-around performer.”
Jordan said Gnat will be a great leader for the Tigers because her talent matches anyone’s in the nation and she has all the leadership qualities needed to lead a team to the Super Six.
“This year, we have really worked on … people stepping up as leaders,” Jordan said. “[Gnat] has done an excellent job of that. She has some of the qualities to be a great leader, and she has shown that this year. I will definitely be looking forward to her stepping up into one of those leadership roles next year.”
Gnat won’t be alone. Freshman all-arounder Myia Hambrick finished No. 18 in the regular-season vault RQS rankings and qualified for the individual event finals. She earned a spot on the podium during the awards ceremony with an eighth-place finish.
LSU coach D-D Breaux said the Tigers also have a talented group of freshmen coming in, ready to restore LSU’s name in gymnastics after it fell just short of qualifying for the Super Six. She said the class, led by Lexie Priessman and McKenna Kelley, was active on Twitter and text messaging, saying LSU’s early exit doesn’t define it and that its legacy will live on.
“[Gnat] is going to be a good leader for this team,” Breaux said. “She is level-headed and leads by example. We have some really strong personalities in freshmen coming next year, so she will have a lot to lead. She’ll have a stable behind her.”
You can reach Jacob Hamilton on Twitter @jhamilton_TDR.